Example would be NTFS formatted works on Mac ok read/write
(which I dont think is even true, but just an example)

Basically, my main question is there a good universal formatting option for Hard Drives to allow them to be compatible with both Mac and PC platforms in a read/write state?

I have struggled with this for years especially at work, but this would be great information. Any ideas or tips are most welcome.

Thanks,
Jason

I know that is an example, but years ago when I was using Linux regularly, there was a way to mount ntfs partitions in read-only mode.
I wouldn't be surprised if there is a way to write them from Linux & its cousins.

Type

man mount

the -t option lets you specify the type of partition
One of those types is ntfs - but it may still be read-only

Just remembered something: I have a hackers boot cd that has all kinds of "tools" on it, all organized into nice menus.

One of those tools let me reset the login password on my xp system, so I guess there are (probably limited) write capabilities for ntfs as well.
It was surprisingly easy (and not surprisingly easy at the same time) too.
Less than 3 minutes (and most of that was booting & searching thru the menus), with no prior knowledge of NT/XP system stuff.

Afterthought; Take a look at Samba. It lets you expose partitions that can be read/written to over the network by Windoze (et al)
machines.

You can also control shares other than partitions, like printers, but I've only used it for hard drive partitions.

Once they are on the network, the guy the other end can access them, and doesn't know (nor does he need to know) what kind of box is hosting the storage.

This isn't exactly what you're looking for but may be somewhat valuable._________________Free Tibet. Release the Panchen Lama from prison. Let the Dalai Lama return to his home.

Example would be NTFS formatted works on Mac ok read/write
(which I dont think is even true, but just an example)

Basically, my main question is there a good universal formatting option for Hard Drives to allow them to be compatible with both Mac and PC platforms in a read/write state?

I have struggled with this for years especially at work, but this would be great information. Any ideas or tips are most welcome.

Thanks,
Jason

OS X can read both NTFS and FAT32, but AFAIK of those two filesystems, it can currently only write to FAT32.
However, you can also use filesharing._________________A Charity Pantomime in aid of Paranoid Schizophrenics descended into chaos yesterday when someone shouted, "He's behind you!"

Thank you elektro80, this is very helpful.
Thank you as well cappy, but I need to know this primarily for removeable storage devices for Apple and MS.
In most cases I need these local and not on the network but very good to know.
J

Thank you elektro80, this is very helpful.
Thank you as well cappy, but I need to know this primarily for removeable storage devices for Apple and MS.
In most cases I need these local and not on the network but very good to know.
J

Well, the simplest, not necessarily robust is FAT32. If you use the autmount
option for the mount command, it will likely detect it without problems.

Another potential option is an ISO partition. I'm sure Linux & Mac can write them easily. Windows may not be able to read it natively, but WinRar, WinISO and WinZip can r/w them._________________Free Tibet. Release the Panchen Lama from prison. Let the Dalai Lama return to his home.

Yes I'm looking for that 3rd solution that may not exist yet>?
Getting in a time machine to use fat32 is what we have been doing.
I indeed will search online some more, I have done a little, but I thought someone here may have some tips too. This is still very helpful, thanks again.

Yes I'm looking for that 3rd solution that may not exist yet>?
Getting in a time machine to use fat32 is what we have been doing.
I indeed will search online some more, I have done a little, but I thought someone here may have some tips too. This is still very helpful, thanks again.

See if there are forums on Mac.com_________________Free Tibet. Release the Panchen Lama from prison. Let the Dalai Lama return to his home.

I know that is an example, but years ago when I was using Linux regularly, there was a way to mount ntfs partitions in read-only mode.
I wouldn't be surprised if there is a way to write them from Linux & its cousins.

I'm fairly sure Ubuntu can read&write NTFS and FAT32 both these days.

For audio work I see no point in using NTFS at all as FAT is faster for throughput so that includes streaming recordings from the HD to your DAW or loading sample libraries, etc.

I once saw a Linux-based data recovery system that could read from *anything* and that was homebrew and years ago so I'm sure there are more proper solutions now._________________Kassen

I know that is an example, but years ago when I was using Linux regularly, t
For audio work I see no point in using NTFS at all as FAT is faster for throughput so that includes streaming recordings from the HD to your DAW

FAT? Perhaps you mean FAT32?
Capacity limitations would be the first issue with FAT._________________Free Tibet. Release the Panchen Lama from prison. Let the Dalai Lama return to his home.

FAT? Perhaps you mean FAT32?
Capacity limitations would be the first issue with FAT.

Absolutely, I didn't say FAT32 was perfect or didn't have downsides, but it's faster than NTFS and more compatible. Speed is a issue for music and compatibility is when we are talking about a OS for music so those are very real concerns, I think.

Secretly I also like the option of booting DOS from a floppy and fixing issues if all hell breaks loose but then there are modern DOS's that can read and write NTFS if need be.

Oh, and I think Windows and OSX are a bit primitive if they don't put a bit more effort into mounting eachother's filesystem. MS seems to think that's a sort of political matter. Woe-betide you HPFS (a IBM format) partition is Windows finds out about it...._________________Kassen

Why not boot DOS from USB? It's lightning fast, and has a lot more room.
We do this in the test lab at work- load up the ramdisk, run the tests from the ramdisk, write logfiles to the USB drive. USB drives on systems with a GOOD bios can boot in just a few seconds._________________Free Tibet. Release the Panchen Lama from prison. Let the Dalai Lama return to his home.

Ok I was wrong.
What did work however for our needs is to format the drives on a mac using the ms-dos format option. This way the drives are both readable & writeable on both platforms as 1 partition etc. Under windows the drives show as a normal fat32 system.
Thanks

I did get all this working on my MacPro but it caused slow startups and shutdowns and in the end it just wasn't worth it. Of course it all may run a little better now as the version numbers seem to have come on a bit from when I tried it.

You cannot post new topics in this forumYou cannot reply to topics in this forumYou cannot edit your posts in this forumYou cannot delete your posts in this forumYou cannot vote in polls in this forumYou cannot attach files in this forumYou can download files in this forum

Please support our site. If you click through and buy from our affiliate partners, we earn a small commission.